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Minnesota becomes eighth state to ban indoor tanning for minors under 18

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 23, 2014) —Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton has signed a bill into law that protects minors from the dangers of indoor tanning. Minnesota joins Vermont, California, Illinois, Oregon, Nevada, Texas and Washington by passing legislation that prohibits minors under the age of 18 from indoor tanning. The law will go into effect on Aug. 1, 2014.

“The American Academy of Dermatology Association commends the state of Minnesota for joining the fight against skin cancer, including melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer,” said board-certified dermatologist Brett M. Coldiron, MD, FAAD, president of the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA). “It is estimated that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime and more than 1,030 new cases of melanoma will be diagnosed in Minnesota in 2014. Since 2.3 million teens tan indoors in the United States annually, restricting teens’ access to indoor tanning is critical to preventing skin cancer.”

More than 3.5 million skin cancers in more than 2 million people are diagnosed annually. The risk for developing melanoma increases by 59 percent in individuals who have been exposed to UV radiation from indoor tanning devices, and the risks increase with each subsequent use.

This passage of this law coincides with Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month® which is recognized in May. The Academy’s SPOT Skin Cancer™ public education initiative is committed to increasing the public’s understanding of skin cancer and motivating people to change their behavior to prevent and detect skin cancer. Visit the SPOT Skin Cancer™ website — www.SpotSkinCancer.org — to learn how to perform a skin self-exam, download a body mole map for tracking changes on your skin, and find free skin cancer screenings in your area. You can also download free materials to educate others in your community, and those affected by skin cancer can share their story via the website.